Complete guide to Pension Credit UK. Who qualifies, how much you get, what it unlocks, and how to check if you're eligible for this often-unclaimed benefit.
·4 min read
Pension Credit tops up retirement income — but over 850,000 eligible people don’t claim. Here’s how to check if you qualify.
What Is Pension Credit?
Two Parts
Part
What It Does
Guarantee Credit
Tops income up to minimum
Savings Credit
Rewards for modest income above State Pension
*Savings Credit closed to new claimants reaching pension age after 6 April 2016
Why It Matters
Benefit
Value
Income top-up
£218.15+ weekly
Gateway benefit
Unlocks other help
Unclaimed
£1.7 billion unclaimed
Are You Eligible?
Basic Eligibility
Requirement
Detail
Age
State Pension age or over
Residence
Living in UK
Income
Below threshold
Savings
Mostly ignored below £10,000
Income Thresholds (2025/26)
Situation
Weekly Guarantee
Single
£218.15
Couple
£332.95
Additional Amounts
If You Have
Extra Amount
Severe disability
£81.50/week
Carer
£45.60/week
Children
Variable
Housing costs
May be included
Quick Eligibility Check
Step 1: Calculate Your Income
Include
Weekly Amount
State Pension
£
Other pensions
£
Other benefits
£
Earnings
£
Total
£
Step 2: Add Savings Tariff
If Savings Over £10,000
Add
£10,001-10,500
£1
£10,501-11,000
£2
Each £500 above
£1 more
Step 3: Compare to Threshold
Your Income
vs Threshold
Total income
£218.15 (single)
If under
You probably qualify
If just over
Check additional amounts
Detailed Examples
Example 1: Single Person, Basic Pension Only
Income
Weekly
State Pension
£175
Savings (£8,000)
£0 (under £10k)
Total income
£175
Threshold
£218.15
Pension Credit
£43.15/week
Example 2: Couple, Some Private Pension
Income
Weekly
His State Pension
£175
Her State Pension
£100
Private pension
£40
Total
£315
Threshold (couple)
£332.95
Pension Credit
£17.95/week
Example 3: With Savings
Income
Weekly
State Pension
£175
Savings £15,000
£10 assumed
Total
£185
Threshold
£218.15
Pension Credit
£33.15/week
What Counts as Income?
Income That Counts
Type
Included
State Pension
Yes
Private/workplace pensions
Yes
Earnings
Yes
Some other benefits
Yes
Pension annuity
Yes
Income NOT Counted
Type
Excluded
Attendance Allowance
No
PIP/DLA
No
Housing Benefit
No
Council Tax Support
No
War Pensions
Partially excluded
Savings Rules
The £10,000 Threshold
Savings
Treatment
£0-10,000
Ignored
£10,001-10,500
£1/week assumed income
£10,501-11,000
£2/week
Each £500 above
Additional £1/week
No Upper Limit
Unlike Other Benefits
Pension Credit
UC, HB
Have upper limits
Pension Credit
No upper limit
High savings
Just more tariff income
What Counts as Savings
Counts
Doesn’t Count
Bank accounts
Home you live in
ISAs
Personal possessions
Premium Bonds
Some business assets
Shares
What Pension Credit Unlocks
Free TV Licence
Benefit
Detail
Eligibility
Pension Credit + 75+
Value
£169.50/year
Automatic?
Must apply
Council Tax Support
Benefit
Detail
Often
Full exemption
Value
£1,500-2,500/year
Apply
Through council
NHS Help
Covers
Value
Free dental
Worth £100s
Free sight tests
£25+
Help with glasses
Varies
Free prescriptions
If below SPA
Cold Weather Payments
Payment
£25 per cold week
Automatic
If below 0°C for 7+ days
Warm Home Discount
Rebate
£150/year
On electricity
Automatic for PC recipients
Funeral Expenses Payment
If Needed
Help with costs
Eligibility
Getting Pension Credit
Covers
Some funeral expenses
Housing Costs
Included in Pension Credit
Cost
Treatment
Mortgage interest
Can be included
Service charges
Some included
Ground rent
Can be included
Housing Benefit Separately
If Renting
Apply for
Housing Benefit
Passport
From Pension Credit
Full help
Usually
How to Claim
Online
Method
Detail
Website
gov.uk/pension-credit
Account
Government Gateway
Time
~20 minutes
Phone
Method
Detail
Helpline
0800 99 1234
Hours
Mon-Fri 8am-6pm
Textphone
0800 169 0133
Backdating
Can Backdate
Up to 3 months
If eligible then
Claim for that period
Automatic
If you request
Mixed-Age Couples
Complex Rules
Situation
Position
Both over State Pension age
Pension Credit
One under SPA
Usually Universal Credit
Pre-May 2019 rules
Some exceptions
Why People Don’t Claim
Common Reasons
Reason
Reality
“I have savings”
May still qualify
“Only small amount”
Unlocks others
“Too much hassle”
Claim process simple
“Don’t need charity”
Paid for through taxes
The Cost of Not Claiming
Missing Out On
Annual Value
Pension Credit
£1,000-2,000+
Council Tax Support
£1,500-2,500
Warm Home Discount
£150
NHS help
Variable
Total potential
£3,000-5,000+
Help with Applications
Free Support
Organisation
Service
Age UK
Phone help
Citizens Advice
Full support
Independent Age
Helpline
Local council
Benefits advice
What You’ll Need
Information
Have Ready
NI number
Yours and partner
Bank details
For payment
Income details
Pensions, other
Savings figures
Approximate
Housing costs
Rent/mortgage
Summary
Do You Qualify?
Check
Answer
Over State Pension age?
☐
Weekly income under £218.15 (single) / £332.95 (couple)?